Woman Killed in Shooting Accident at River Ranch

Sunday

Feb 3, 2013 at 5:03 AMFeb 4, 2013 at 1:54 AM

Officials said Michelle Stucket-Dubler of Orlando was shot in the leg.

By CLIFFORD PARODYTHE LEDGER

LAKE WALES | A 51-year-old Orlando woman died Saturday at the River Ranch Hunt Club when her rifle fired and she was struck in the leg, according to Polk County sheriff's deputies. Reports said the gunshot caused an enormous amount of blood loss and Michelle Stucket-Dubler died at the scene.Sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Eleazer said the investigation is continuing pending an autopsy, but no foul play is suspected."On our end, it appears to be accidental," Eleazer said Sunday.Deputies said Stucket-Dubler, of 3820 Bryson Drive in Orlando, spent Saturday hunting with her husband, 50-year-old Lloyd Dubler. According to reports, the pair hunted at separate locations on the property, and about 7 p.m., Lloyd Dubler drove his pickup to pick her up. Stucket-Dubler opened the back door of the pickup to place her rifle inside. Deputies said the barrel of the rifle was pointed toward her. Her husband, who was sitting in the front seat at the time, told deputies the rifle went off, the Sheriff's Office said.She was struck in the right leg, just under her pelvis."Her husband called the River Ranch gate and everyone coordinated to get her the help she needed as soon as possible," Eleazer said.But emergency workers faced rough terrain when they arrived in the area near the Kissimmee River in eastern Polk County, and sheriff's agriculture deputies had to bring in four-wheel-drive vehicles to assist, according to Eleazer.Her husband was the only witness to the shooting, according to reports."This appears to be an awful tragedy," Eleazer said.

[ Clifford Parody can be reached at clifford.parody@theledger.com or 863-802-7516. ]